By PAYATE
You copied photos from an iPhone to a Windows PC and they end in .HEIC - and nothing opens them. Upload forms reject them too. HEIC is Apple's space-saving photo format, and Windows does not support it out of the box. Here is how to open HEIC files and turn them into formats everyone accepts.
Table of contents
Option 1: Convert HEIC to PDF in your browser
Best when you need to send documents, receipts or ID photos:
- Open HEIC to PDF in Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
- Select one or many HEIC photos.
- Choose A4 for documents or "Same as image" for photos.
- Click Convert to PDF - all photos end up in one PDF.
The photos are decoded on your own computer; nothing is uploaded.
Option 2: Install the HEIF extension
Windows can open HEIC in the Photos app after installing the HEIF Image Extensions (and sometimes HEVC Video Extensions) from the Microsoft Store. After that, you can open a photo and use Save as to store a JPG copy.
Option 3: Stop the problem at the source
On the iPhone go to Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible. New photos are then saved as JPG. You can also set Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC > Automatic so photos are converted when copied by cable.
HEIC vs JPG vs PDF
- HEIC - about half the size of JPG, great on Apple devices, poorly supported elsewhere.
- JPG - works everywhere, best for single photos.
- PDF - best for documents with several pages, forms and printing.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting HEIC reduce quality?
Only slightly. Photos are converted at high quality; for documents the difference is not visible.
Can I convert HEIC on Android?
Yes, the browser tool works on Android phones too.
My PDF is too large to upload. What now?
Use Compress PDF or choose A4 size, which keeps the file smaller.
Convert your photos: HEIC to PDF →
